A man has died after a light aircraft he was piloting crashed at the Imperial War Museum Duxford yesterday (March 26).

The man, in his 50s and from Bedfordshire, was flying alone in a privately owned General Aviation Cirrus SR22 when it crashed at the Cambridgeshire airfield on Tuesday.

In a statement, IWM Duxford said that "despite the best efforts of medical crews", the man passed away at the scene.

"We are sad to report that the pilot, a man in his 50s from the Bedfordshire area, did not survive the crash," a spokesperson said.

"Despite the best efforts of medical crews, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. Cambridgeshire Police have informed next of kin, who attended the scene of the accident yesterday.

"The aircraft was a privately owned General Aviation Cirrus SR22, based at Duxford. There were no other passengers.

"Police have now passed the investigation over to the Air Accident Investigation Branch, who remain on site at Duxford."

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman added: "We were called at 1.40pm on Tuesday with reports that an aircraft had crashed at Duxford Airfield.

"Two ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, three Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance attended the scene.

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of all emergency services involved, a man was pronounced dead at the scene."

IWM Duxford will be closed to the public today and tomorrow (March 27 and 28), but is expected to reopen on Friday.